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Kick-Starters is Essendon Royals’ introduction to football for children aged 4 to 9. It’s a fun, friendly first step into the game, run by experienced coaches across the Victorian school terms.
If you’re looking for soccer for 4 year olds in Essendon, or an easy way for an older child to try the game, this is where most of our juniors start. No experience needed, just shin pads and plenty of energy.
Kick-Starters is built on Football Australia’s MiniRoos Kick-Off framework, the national program for children taking their first steps in football. Sessions run for 45 minutes and focus on fun, confidence and core football skills.
Every activity is age appropriate, and every child gets lots of time on the ball. Kids learn to dribble, pass and shoot through games, and they make new friends along the way.
The program is run by Essendon Royals Soccer Club, a community club in Moonee Valley. It helps more than 200 local children take their first steps in organised sport.
What your child gets:
Kids are grouped by age so every session suits where they’re at. In 2026, a typical term looked like this:
| Day | Time | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:00am | 4 to 6 |
| Saturday | 10:00am | 6 to 9 |
| Wednesday | 4:30pm | 4 to 8 |
Groups are finalised after registration, so we may place your child in the session that suits them best. Times can change from year to year, so check this term’s details before you register.
Kick-Starters runs at a local ground or school oval in the Moonee Valley area. The venue is confirmed each term in that term’s news article, along with parking and entry details.
The program is term based and follows the Victorian school terms, so there are four terms a year. Registrations open term by term, and each term’s dates are published on our News page before it starts.
You can register for a single term, a semester or the whole year. These are the 2026 prices:
| Option | Covers | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|
| Term | One school term | $240 |
| Semester | Two terms | $480 |
| Full year | All four terms | $860 |
If you’ve registered for a semester or a full year, the terms it covers are already sorted. There’s nothing more to do each term.
There are two ways to register, depending on whether your child has done Kick-Starters before.
If your child has never registered with Essendon Royals Kick-Starters, start with PlayFootball, Football Australia’s official registration platform. If you can’t find the program, email registrations@essendonroyals.com.au and we’ll send you the direct link.
If your child registered through PlayFootball for an earlier term and you’re back for another single term, you don’t need to go through PlayFootball again. Use the returning-player form in this term’s details instead.
Not sure which applies? If you’ve registered through PlayFootball at any point this year, use the returning-player form. If you haven’t, start with PlayFootball.
Parents are asked to stay away from the training area while sessions run.
Kick-Starters is the first step on the club’s junior pathway. When your child is ready, they can move into one of our community junior teams, starting with MiniRoos from Under 7.
From there, players keep going through the junior pathway, with teams in the BVYPL and GVYPL junior competitions. Read more on the Play at Essendon Royals page, or see every program on our Football Programs page.
For club news through the year, download the free Royals App from the App Store or Google Play.
Kick-Starters is for children aged 4 to 9. In 2026, the Saturday 9:00am session suited ages 4 to 6, the 10:00am session ages 6 to 9, and the Wednesday 4:30pm session ages 4 to 8.
No. Kick-Starters is designed as a first taste of the game. Sessions are built around fun and lots of time on the ball, so beginners fit right in.
The club uniform, which is compulsory and bought separately, plus shin pads (mandatory) and sports footwear. Football boots are recommended. Bring a water bottle too.
Parents are asked to stay away from the training area during sessions, so the coaches can run the group. If you have a question about a session, email kickstarters@essendonroyals.com.au.
Yes, where numbers allow. We run girls-only groups when enough girls register for a session.
At a local ground or school oval in the Moonee Valley area. The venue is confirmed each term in this term’s details on our News page.
If your child registered through PlayFootball for an earlier term this year, use the returning-player form in this term’s news article. You don’t need to go through PlayFootball again. Semester and full-year families are already covered.
Kids can move into our community junior teams, starting with MiniRoos from Under 7, then keep going through the club’s junior pathway in the BVYPL and GVYPL competitions.
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